Lallana's Left Peg

I wouldn't care. It would be nice if they went up - I think it's good for football to have different teams come up and get a slice of that Premier League money, but really I do not give two ****s.

I don't think the club will give a contract to a player just to have him fill a registration spot for Europe. If we can only register 20 players for Europe, and yet that list doesn't need to include the likes of Targett, JWP, and Reed etc. then we'll be just fine.

It's not that much of a problem if we lose some registration spots and the likes of Reed and JWP don't need to be registered. In fact looking at our squad now I don't see it being a problem at all?

81/82 - 7th div 1 82/83 - 12th div 1 83/84 - 2nd div 1 I'd take that after this season

As in, the Managers above him in the table are better than him? I'm pretty sure a few of them wouldn't be able to get Saints in the position we're in this season.

There isn't really a compelling reason for Clyne to stay. He'll get European football at his new club, which will also be able to offer him a salary likely at least double what we could. Saints don't stand a chance, do they? The only thing he has in his favour here is pretty much being first choice. He risks that at his new club. But there aren't many players in history that don't back themselves and reject a move away on that basis. Bye bye Clyney.

The deadline was end of April and now it's the end of the season. He won't sign a new deal regardless.

If we're in the race for fourth on the last game of the season and Jay Rod makes the pitch with the game in the balance...I think we all know what would be a dream return...

Bournemouth and Norwich for me. Think Norwich will turn over Boro.

We've definitely tracked Phillips for a while as we were after him when he was at Blackpool (in fact he told Blackpool he wanted to move to us and Holloway saw his arse about it). I would imagine his attraction to us also increases with his nationality given our potential European campaign. Plus Ellia hasn't exactly been great.

Mane apparently refused to travel for a CL Qualifier game as he was on the brink of a move to us and / or he was trying to push his move through. Though someone also told me his move was arranged for a few weeks before he actually signed so he may have been trying to protect himself. Either way we're the beneficiary of somewhat interesting player behaviour as much as we're on the receiving end of it.

He's in his mid twenties and has the opportunity to join the biggest club in the country (who are better than us) and treble / quadruple his wage. There is no scenario on earth where it makes sense for him to stay at Saints. And lets not forget the manner in which he joined Saints in the first place. We've benefitted from this as much as he has.

Bony doesn't drop deep really - no more than Hernandez would / does. When we play at home against bottom half opposition we would benefit greatly from a player like Hernandez. Our failure to break down defences definitely includes the reasons you've stated but is also because we do not have good enough movement in the box and a proper finisher. If we had a player like Hernandez I think more chances would manifest themselves because of his movement and the way he plays.

No way to Berahino, Bony, Jelavic, and Cisse. All contribute little outside the desire to score goals.

I don't disagree with your sentiment but football is not a game for gentleman. It's a business for many who play the game and whilst they may love the sport it is also a means for them to earn lots of money - and with all the money that exists in the game there are opportunities to earn incredible wealth, and often footballers don't come from wealthy backgrounds either. Ings is conducting himself well but it is easier to do that when you have your future in your own hands. That is the big difference he has against other players setting themselves up for moves.

We don't play that way because we've never had one. Now we're one of the better teams in the division we need one. Someone who can occupy two central defenders with his movement and will finish for us - teams sit back so deep these days that we need someone to fill that role for us. When a team sits back against us I don't want to see our striker dropping deep for the ball. In terms of last man strikers: Berahino, Aguero, Cisse, Bony. To a lesser extend Kane, Jelavic, and Lukaku. All strikers who tend to play within the width of the 18 yard box and who use their movement in the box to create space and they finish. Some better than others, but as a club we need a player who fits that role if we are to maintain this sort of league position.

I think he absolutely would against at least half the teams we face in this division. Works hard, great movement, and can finish. We would be lucky to have him.

Can't see a current Top 4 club being interested in Wanyama given his limitations as a player. He's got some development to go yet.

I think we all know what to do here ladies and gents: http://www.liverpoolfc.com/2015-player-young-player-of-the-year-vote Vote Lovren.

It's not unique to us. Clubs send out feelers to players well before the season ends to line up summer moves. The process of recruiting is very long. It feels like it has happened more to us because we have players that bigger clubs want, that's all. In a way we're a victim of our own success in that respect, but it is far better than the alternative of not having clubs interested in our players. When you learn that Luke Shaw is on a six figure weekly wage at one of the biggest clubs in the world then I can imagine why Clyne's head has been turned. I haven't seen any lack of effort from him for us, though his form has been off (he's not the only one in recent months either, though).

I cam confused - I am sure Newcastle fans convinced us all that with a passionate Geordie in charge they'd be unstoppable. One of their own - what makes their club so special and all that.

It would be a sobering thought to have the season we've had and yet only end up one position in the table better off than last season, even if the points haul was much better. Just goes to show how much of a gap there is to bridge over the course of a season - and we had a go at it without European football. Of course, there are worst realisations as a football fan but you have to wonder - will we ever have it better than this season!?!

Just back from the game. You missed nothing. It was a turgid affair on a horrible pitch. Lots of effort, but a complete lack of quality in the final third from both teams. No disrespect intended, but Blackburn did a good job bringing the game down to their level - very physical, very meat and two veg approach to playing the game. We stood up well to the physicality but poor Jake Hesketh was getting thrown around like a rag doll. Defended well (not that we had anything special to contend with) but in the final third we lacked cohesion and belief. Martin Hunter was doing his nut in several times, especially in the second half. We looked better when Sinclair and Sims came on for Gallagher (who had an absolute nightmare which included TWO air shots) and McQueen. But that may also be because Blackburn started to tire and there was more space on the pitch. On the better pitch we should have more than enough to put them away. Very impressed with Will Wood who was my Saints man of the match. Targett also performed very well. Harrison Reed has developed a bit of a mouth on him and tried to manage the game and Ref and I don't think it suits him.

I think we are for at least 10-12 games a season. Teams come to St Marys and sit back - we've got scope for a player who sits on the central defenders and stays within the width of the 18 yard box and has nice movement in the box. We need to create more but even if we don't that promotes the need for a good poacher / finisher even more really.

Ewood Park. No. But the second leg at St Marys is on Sky.